Shippensburg University Athletics

Brayden Long was promoted to the position of offensive coordinator for the Raider football program on January 22, 2026, following the appointment of Drew Gallardy as head coach in December. In addition to leading the Raider offensive, Long will maintain his role as quarterbacks coach, wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. 

Long is entering his second season as a full-time assistant on the Raider football coaching staff in 2026.
 
In 2025, Long’s first season on the staff, he mentored redshirt-sophomore quarterback Riley Gunnels, who started all 11 games and ranked third in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in pass completions (214) and eighth in the PSAC in passing yards (1,952).

Long arrived at Shippensburg after beginning his coaching career at Towson, having spent last seven months (January - July 2025) as an offensive quality control coach and assistant quarterbacks coach for the Tigers. He immediately jumped into coaching after graduating from Slippery Rock in December 2024.

For his leadership and legacy as a quarterback for The Rock, Long was was one of six recipients of the 2026 NCAA Impact Award. He accepted his award at the NCAA Convention held at National Harbor in January 2026. 
 
As a senior in 2024, Long was named one of eight finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy (Division II Player of the Year) after throwing for 3,470 yards (third nationally) and 28 touchdowns (ninth nationally). He was the starting quarterback and a team captain for a Slippery Rock team that earned a 12-2 record, the No. 3 national ranking and reached the NCAA Division II National Semifinals. He was also a Hill Trophy finalist in 2023.
  
In his two years as starter, Long led The Rock to a 24-4 overall record. He is Slippery Rock football's all-time leader in career completions and completion percentage and is second in program history in career touchdown passes and passing yardage. He is a two-time All-PSAC selection (2023, 2024) and was the 2023 PSAC West Offensive Athlete of the Year.
  
Long's résumé is just as impressive off the gridiron.
 
In October 2024, he was the only Division II player to be named one of 16 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, an award presented by the National Football Foundation and the College Hall of Fame to the nation's premier scholar-athlete for all levels of college football. The Campbell Trophy is considered the "Academic Heisman."
 
Long was named the 2024 Academic All-American ® of the Year for Division II Football and was the First Team quarterback on the Academic All-America ® team after earning his degree in sport management from Slippery Rock with a perfect 4.0 GPA. He is a two-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Pete Nevins Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
 
A South Central Pennsylvania native, Long was an All-State selection at New Oxford High School. He graduated from New Oxford as the Adams County career leader in both passing yards and touchdown passes.